Arrangement for the optical recording of live skin areas of human autopodia and of documents

ABSTRACT

An arrangement and method for optical recording of live skin areas of human autopodia and documents has a layer body comprising sensor layer with light-sensitive elements in regular pixel rasters, transparent protective layer above the sensor layer as placement surface for skin areas or documents is integrated in a mobile image capture device having at least one display for user guidance and an internal power supply. The layer body has an area light-emitting layer under the sensor layer to emit light in a first angle range for frustrated total internal reflection at the placement surface when autopodia are placed thereon and to emit in a second angle range to illuminate documents on the placement surface. A controlling and data processing unit handles preprocessing and reducing captured image data and an electronic interface for wireless coupling of the image capture device with a further electronic device for image data processing.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 102017008 710.5, filed Sep. 12, 2017 which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to an arrangement and a method for the opticalrecording of live skin areas of human autopodia and of documents. It isapplied in particular for personal identification in internationalborder traffic and in the domain of flight security but also, forexample, for retail credit card payment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The detection and identification of persons is steadily gainingimportance. At international border crossings, for example, checking ofidentity documents (ID documents) is essential. Increasingly,fingerprints of more than one phalanx are also recorded and comparedagainst databases.

One border control scenario consists in crossing the border in anautomobile. In the near future, all of the passengers in the automobilewill have fingerprints recorded for all ten fingers. At least, fourfingers (without thumbs) of a hand should be recorded simultaneously inorder to avoid errors in the recording sequence (and therefore inassociating the image with the respective finger). Further, recording aplurality of fingers simultaneously promises to speed up the processcompared to consecutive recordings. An image of the driver's license orof another personal document (ID document) will also be recorded.

When using arrangements or equipment known from the prior art, thepassengers must exit the vehicle and have their fingerprints taken at astationary device in the border control building. Arrangements such asthose used in other border crossing scenarios, e.g., in internationalairports, can also be used in this case. Stationary fingerprint readingdevices and additional document reading equipment are mostly used.However, there are also already prior art devices which can recorddocuments and fingerprints with one and the same device (DE 10 2015 116026 A1). This can save time during the recording process. Recordingdocuments and fingerprints consecutively over the same placement surfaceprevents mistakes due to erroneous association of more than oneplacement surface. A device which can read fingerprints as well asdocuments also would appear to be cheaper to produce than two separatedevices.

However, the stationary configuration described above for capturingfingerprints and possibly ID documents still has the disadvantage thatthe passengers must exit the vehicle. On the other hand, there are alsoprior art concepts for mobile fingerprint reading devices such as thosedescribed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,104 B1 or U.S. Pat. No.8,036,431 B2 which are suitable to be transported by the controlofficial (e.g., border official) to the person to be recorded. However,these devices are not designed for recording a plurality of fingerssimultaneously, and documents can also not be recorded over the sameplacement surface.

Devices for capturing images of personal identification features inother border crossing scenarios, e.g., border control for trains, alsohave requirements similar to those for border crossings by automobiles.But it is also preferable in other fields of application to transport areading device to the person whose identity is to be recorded and/orchecked, e.g., retail credit card transactions, registration ofdisplaced persons, or voter registration.

Disclosed mobile solutions can scan either only fingerprints (U.S. Pat.Nos. 8,036,431 B1, 7,190,817 B1, 6,886,104 B1) or only documents (U.S.Pat. No. 7,245,765 B2) or, if both, then only by linking a plurality ofdevices. A combined recording of fingerprints and documents is known asmobile device solution from U.S. Pat. No. 7,817,821 B2. This discloses amobile device which includes a document scanner, a fingerprint scannerand a camera for face recording. It is referred to as a “station” inwhich various individual devices can be integrated and is accordingly amodular device concept.

None of the prior known technical solutions can capture documents and aplurality of fingerprints simultaneously via an individual opticalscanner or can be used wirelessly as handheld portable device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to find a novel possibility for theoptical recording of live skin areas of human autopodia and documentsfor identifying persons which permits a flexible image capture offingerprints and/or personal documents from any location, particularlyfor mobile border crossing in international travel, flight securitycontrol, identification of displaced persons or other situations inwhich persons are to be identified.

An arrangement for the optical recording of live skin areas of humanautopodia and for the optical recording of documents comprises a layerbody with a sensor layer in which light-sensitive elements are arrangedin a two-dimensional regular pixel raster, a transparent protectivelayer above the two-dimensional pixel raster of light-sensitive elementsof the sensor layer, which protective layer has an outer surface of thelayer body parallel to and at a defined distance from thelight-sensitive elements, which outer surface provides a placementsurface for the skin areas of multi-segment autopodia or documents to berecorded, at least one two-dimensional or area light source by whichlight components of the light source can be coupled in from thedirection of the sensor layer through the protective layer to the skinareas or the document to be recorded, wherein all of the layers of thelayer body which are located between the light source and the placementsurface transmit at least portions of light of a required wavelengthrange, and a control unit for image read-out, image processing andcontrol of the light source. The above-stated object is met in thisarrangement according to the invention in that the layer body isintegrated in a mobile image capture device having at least one displayfor displaying a user guidance for the user, an internal power supplywhich ensures the use of the image capture device for a desired periodof use without external power feed, the layer body is supplemented atits underside by the at least one area light source in the form of alight-emitting layer, wherein the at least one area light source isconfigured to emit light in a first angle range such that lightcomponents in the protective layer are internally reflected at theplacement surface in order to record skin areas placed on the placementsurface using the principle of frustrated total internal reflection andto emit light in a second angle range such that light componentsilluminate documents placed on the placement surface through theplacement surface, and the image capture device has an electroniccontrolling and data processing unit for preprocessing the capturedimage data and for reducing the image data for wirelessly sending to afurther electronic device, and the mobile image capture device iscoupled, via an interface for wireless data transmission andcommunication, to a further electronic device for image data processingwith quality assessment and image data management.

Advantageous embodiments follow from the subclaims.

A mobile image capture device is one which can be used as a fullystand-alone device, particularly cordlessly for image recordings of skinprints and personal documents (particularly ID documents, visas, creditcards, etc.) and is wirelessly connected to a further electronic devicefor purposes of data transfer. With the image capture device, images ofdocuments and skin areas of human autopodia are recorded on the samerecording surface and are sent to the connected further electronicdevice without basic image data processing. It is only through theconnected further electronic device that images are further processedand evaluated and results of the evaluation are sent back to the imagecapture device so that only high-quality images are transmitted to theconnected further electronic device, processed and stored therein orrouted to databases or storage systems.

The arrangement according to the invention allows a plurality of fingersto be scanned simultaneously. The active scanning surface allows fourfingerprints to be recorded simultaneously. Further, documents, e.g.,personal documents (ID documents, driver's licenses or boarding passes),can also be selectively recorded via the same placement surface.Compared with prior art devices, the image capture device for autopodiaand documents is substantially lighter and smaller. It preferably has athickness of less than 5 cm and a weight of less than 500 g. This ismade possible through the use of an optical direct scanner with alarge-area sensor layer. Therefore, no prisms, imaging optics orillumination optics are needed. The arrangement according to theinvention has an accumulator or a battery so as to be independent fromthe cable power supply at least for a given period of time. Further, itexchanges data wirelessly (e.g., via WLAN, Bluetooth or the likeconnections) with another device and can accordingly recordhigh-resolution images entirely cordlessly in mobile use, forward theseimages for evaluation and have results sent in turn. The device isoutfitted with a display which is located adjacent to or inside of theplacement surface for displaying user information. Preferably,signatures can also be made on this display, electronically registeredand likewise transmitted.

Accordingly, the invention also makes it possible to perform the entiresequence of operations for data acquisition in mobile control scenariosand identification scenarios such as border crossing, control ofdisplaced persons, voter registration, boarding in airports, etc. insuch a way that the persons who are to be identified need not passthrough a stationary control post on foot but, rather, can be identifiedinside of a vehicle (e.g., automobile or train) or at changing controllocations (airport boarding, recording of displaced persons in shelters)with a handheld mobile device. In some cases, this can include aten-finger recording (4-4-2), document recording, recording of signatureand direct checking of personal identity through data comparison with adatabase.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described more fully in the following throughembodiment examples. The drawings show:

FIG. 1 shows a first implementation and a second implementation of thearrangement according to the invention with an image capture device anda smartphone or a tablet PC;

FIG. 2 shows a third preferred implementation of the arrangementaccording to the invention with an image capture device and aconventional PC with display screen and Internet access;

FIG. 3 shows an advantageous construction of the image capture devicewith a placement surface which is also simultaneously configured as adisplay for the user guidance;

FIG. 4 shows a first construction of the layer body as a sensor unitunder the placement surface with a unitary light-emitting layer forilluminating the objects placed thereon;

FIG. 5 shows a further construction of the layer body as sensor unitwith a light-emitting layer with two different light sources, one lightsource being configured as waveguide structure for the illumination ofautopodia;

FIG. 6 shows a further construction of the layer body as sensor unithaving a light-emitting layer with two different light sources, onelight source being configured as a diffusely emitting backlight for theillumination of documents placed thereon;

FIG. 7 shows a further construction of the layer body as sensor unitwith a light-emitting layer for illuminating objects placed thereon inthe form of a waveguide structure with additional reflector layer;

FIG. 8 shows a view of the layer body corresponding to FIG. 7 forillustrating the influence of ambient light (sun);

FIG. 9 shows a further construction of the layer body as sensor unitwith a light-emitting layer for illuminating objects placed thereonusing a reflector layer and an ambient light diaphragm;

FIG. 10 shows a view of the layer body corresponding to FIG. 9 toillustrate the influence of ambient light when an ambient lightdiaphragm is in use;

FIG. 11 shows a typical flow schema for an ID check according to theinvention with separate image capture and checking of quality andidentity or validity of recorded image data;

FIG. 12 shows a flow schema for the image recording of autopodia indifferent placement procedures with selection display for user guidanceon the display of the mobile image capture device;

FIG. 13 shows a flow schema for image recording of autopodia anddocuments with selection display for user guidance on the display of themobile image capture device;

FIG. 14 shows a flowchart for the further processing of image recordingsof autopodia and documents and communication between mobile imagecapture device, further electronic device and a database.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The arrangement according to the invention comprises a mobile imagecapture device 100, as is shown in FIG. 1, which is wirelessly connectedto a further electronic device. A suitable device to which the imagecapture device 100 can be connected is, e.g., a mobile phone(smartphone) 101, a tablet PC 102 or also, as is shown in FIG. 2, adesktop computer (PC) 106. A connection between the image capture device100 and a laptop is also possible.

FIG. 1 shows the mobile image capture device 100 with a placementsurface 104 for positioning autopodia 112 or documents 113. A preferredembodiment form is shown with a separate display 103 for a userguidance. The mobile image capture device 100 communicates with one ormore further electronic devices via a wireless connection 108. In twopreferred embodiment forms, the mobile image capture device 100 iswirelessly coupled either to a smartphone 101 (mobile phone) or to atablet PC 102.

FIG. 2 shows a third advantageous variant with the image capture device100 and a coupled further electronic device in the form of aninternet-enabled computer (PC) 106 with display screen 107. Coupling isalso carried out in this case by means of a wireless connection 108. Theconnection 108 of a mobile image capture device 100 with a plurality ofPCs 106 is also possible. Also, a plurality of image capture devices 100can be coupled with one PC 106.

FIG. 3 shows a particularly preferred embodiment example in which thedisplay 103 is located under the placement surface 104, below which islocated the layer body 105 with sensor layer 115 and light-emittinglayer 116 for direct image capture without optically imaging elements.The user guidance is carried out in this embodiment directly on theplacement surface 104 so that it can be interactive and context-based.Another possibility would be a combination with a further display 103adjacent to the placement surface 104 as is shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows the layer body 105 inside the mobile image capture device100. The fingers (autopodia) 112 or the document 113 are placed on theplacement surface 104. The placement surface 104 is formed by one sideof a protective layer 114. This protective layer 114 protects the sensorlayer 115 against damage due to mechanical, chemical or electricalenvironmental influences. The protective layer 114 and the sensor layer115 are connected optically and are connected to one another, e.g.,optically bonded. On the side remote of the protective layer 114, thesensor layer 115 is likewise optically connected to a light-emittinglayer 116. The fingers 112 or the ID document 113 are illuminated byillumination light 110 through the light-emitting layer 116. The lightpath goes through the sensor layer 115. The components of theillumination light 110 which include at the placement surface 104 anangle with the perpendicular from this surface that is greater than thecritical angle of total reflection are totally reflected at theplacement surface 104. The internally reflected light 111 can bedetected by the sensor layer 115. The ridges 119 of fingerprints orother objects which are in optical contact with the placement surface104 interrupt this total reflection. In this way, an inverted image ofthe contacting areas, e.g., of a finger 112 can be recorded. Componentsof the illumination light 110 which include at the placement surface 104an angle with the perpendicular from this surface that is smaller thanthe critical angle of total reflection pass through the placementsurface 104 and can illuminate an object, e.g., a document 113, evenwhen it has no optical contact with the placement surface 104.

The scattered light 109 can be detected via the sensor layer 115. Thecontrol and supply of power take place in the electronic controlling anddata processing unit 117. The latter has an interface for wirelessconnection 108 to a further electronic device, e.g., mobile phone 101,tablet PC 102 or computer 106. The mobile image capture device 100 iswirelessly coupled to the further electronic device 101, 102 or 106. Theimage data are further processed in the electronic controlling and dataprocessing unit 117 before sending via the wireless connection 108. Forexample, image corrections, image evaluations, scaling and compressiontake place in the electronic controlling and data processing unit 117.The electronic controlling and data processing unit 117 is supplied withpower via a chargeable accumulator found inside the mobile image capturedevice 100. In a preferred embodiment form, this accumulator can beexchanged by the user. The accumulator can be charged, e.g., via a USBinterface.

A particularly preferred embodiment form is shown in FIG. 5. In thiscase, there are two light sources inside the light-emitting layer 116: alight source 122 for the illumination of the finger 112 and a lightsource 124 for the illumination of the ID document 113. In this example,light source 122 for illuminating the finger 112 is constructed as awaveguide. The light propagation 126 of a light-emitting diode 125 inthe waveguide ensures that the coupled-in light is distributed in theentire layer of light source 122. The light needed for this can beemitted, e.g., by one or more LEDs 125 and coupled into the waveguide.The waveguide is constructed in this instance such that components ofthe light are coupled out and pass through the transparent regions 121of the sensor layer 115 to the placement surface 104.

In a further advisable embodiment form according to FIG. 6, two lightsources are again provided within the light-emitting layer 116: a lightsource 122 for illuminating the finger 112 and a light source 124 forilluminating the document 113. In this constructional variant, the lightsource 124 for illuminating the document 113 is formed as a diffusebacklight such as is also used, e.g., in LCD displays. The backlight isconfigured such that components of the coupled-out illumination light110 exit in different directions and, in doing so, pass through thetransparent regions 121 of sensor layer 115 to the placement surface 104and illuminate a document 113 placed on the latter.

FIG. 7 shows the layer body 105 with a light source 122 for illuminatingthe finger 112 which is constructed as a waveguide as is shown in FIG.5. In this preferred embodiment form, a reflector layer 129 is locatedbetween sensor layer 115 and the light source 122 for the illuminationof the finger 112. This reflector layer 129 is partially transparent andpartially reflective such that components of the light of LEDs 125contribute to the light propagation in the waveguide, while othercomponents are transmitted through the reflector layer 129. Thetransmitted illumination light 110 passes through the transparentregions 121 of the sensor layer 115 to the placement surface 104 whereit undergoes total reflection provided that the total internalreflection is not disrupted by direct contact surfaces of objects placedon the placement surface 104.

As in FIG. 7, another constructional variant shown in FIG. 8 uses alight source 122 formed as waveguide for illuminating the finger 112 anda reflector layer 129. In addition, a spectral filter 128 is located inthis instance between the protective layer 114 and the sensor layer 115.This spectral filter 128 is adapted to block (and filter out throughreflection or absorption) components of ambient light 127, e.g., fromthe sun.

FIG. 9 shows a limited portion of layer body 105 as is shown in FIG. 7with a light source 122 formed as waveguide for the illumination offinger 112 and with a reflector layer 129. In addition, there is a layerwith ambient light diaphragms 130 in this instance. The selected portionof the layer body 105 shows an ambient light diaphragm 130 which blockslight that propagates at certain angles from the placement surface 104in direction of sensor layer 115. The illumination light 110 and thereflection thereof at the placement surface 104 are not to be limited.

The angles that are blocked are defined based on the distance betweenthe ambient light diaphragm 130 and the light-sensitive element ofsensor layer 115 and based on the size and shape of the ambient lightdiaphragm 130. In an improved embodiment form, there is a further layerwith pixel aperture stops 132. As is shown in detail in FIG. 9, a pixelaperture stop 132 of this kind is located between the sensor layer 115and the layer with the ambient light diaphragms 130. Unwanted angleranges can be blocked more efficiently through the pixel aperture stop132.

FIG. 10 shows a layer body 105 as in FIG. 9 with angle-selective ambientlight protection comprising ambient light diaphragm 130 and pixelaperture stop 132. The light path of interfering ambient light 127 isshown here in order to illustrate the efficiency of the ambient lightdiaphragm 130 and pixel aperture stop 132. Interfering ambient light 127occurs in particular when the sun shines directly on the placementsurface 104 or on the finger 112 placed thereon. Such light componentsoriginating from ambient light 127 are efficiently reduced in theembodiment form according to FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 11 shows a typical flow schema for a personal identity checkaccording to the invention with separate image capture and for checkingthe quality and identity or validity of recorded image data. The methodis supported by a user guidance on a display 103 of the image capturedevice 100. The process commences with the selection of differentrecording modes, e.g., fingerprint recording, document recording,signature recording or recording of barcodes. The user then selects theappropriate mode. If the image capture device 100 is constructed in sucha way that the display 103 is located separately next to the placementsurface 104, it is preferably outfitted with a touchscreen. Accordingly,the user can select the required mode directly with the finger. If thedisplay 103 for showing user information is located under the placementsurface 104 of the image capture device 100, the user's selection withthe finger can also be detected directly by the sensor layer 115. Oncethe selection has been made, the display 103 shows the variants of therecording procedures, e.g., 4-4-2 when recording fingers, i.e., aprocedure in which four fingers of one hand are first recorded, thenfour fingers of the other hand are recorded and, finally, in a thirdrecording, the two thumbs are recorded. However, there are also otherprocedures for fingerprint recording, e.g., the simultaneous recordingof only two fingers. When the device is in document recording mode, forexample, different procedures can also be offered for differentdocuments. As when selecting the mode, the user selects the desiredprocedure. The image capture device 100 now switches on the illuminationfor recording and starts the continuous image acquisition. In general,the illumination can already be switched on. But for reduced powerconsumption in a mobile type scenario, the illumination can also beswitched on only for recording. Separate light sources 124, 122 for theillumination of documents 113 and for the illumination of autopodia 112are preferably contained in the light-emitting layer 116. The imagecapture device 100 switches on the illumination that is used for theselected recording mode. The display 103 now requires the user to placethe document 113 or one or more fingers 112 on the placement surface 104according to the selected procedure. During the continuous imageacquisition, images are continually recorded with the sensor layer 115and buffered and reduced with the electronic controlling and dataprocessing unit 117. The reduced images are continuously sent to anelectronic device connected to the image capture device 100. In atypical situation, according to FIG. 1, this connected device is amobile phone 101 or a tablet PC 102. The connected electronic devicereceives the data and starts image processing processes. In particular,the images are evaluated. Typical evaluation methods test for imagenoise, contrast or gray scale range. The reduced images are preferablyshown continuously on the display of the connected device during thisprocess. The recording can accordingly be monitored via the connecteddevice. The results of the quality test are sent back to the imagecapture device 100. If the results are positive, the image capturedevice 100 sends the corresponding complete image to the connecteddevice (mobile phone 101, tablet PC 102). If the test is negative, thecontinuous recording process continues until an image satisfies thequality test or another termination condition takes effect. Atermination condition may be, e.g., a time limit after which the user isasked to repeat placement or corrective measures are undertaken toimprove the recording (increase placement pressure, moisten dry fingers,etc.).

After the complete image has been sent to the connected device, thisdevice executes a further image processing chain to optimize the imageaccording to requirements (filters, transformations, etc.). In case therecording process has ended, the display 103 of the image capture device100 shows the confirmation (e.g., green checkmark); if not, the display103 shows the prompt for placement of the next fingers 112 or documents113 and the process continues as described above. The status of theprocess is also preferably indicated on the display of the connecteddevice as are the reduced images and the complete images and the resultsat the conclusion of the process.

At the conclusion of the process, the further processing of the finalimage data commences. These image data are preferably compared with adatabase locally on the device according to FIG. 14 or are also sent toa connected external database and compared. The results are received viathe connected further electronic device (mobile phone 101, tablet PC 102or PC 106) and displayed on the latter or are also sent to the imagecapture device 100 and shown on display 103.

According to the basic method described in FIG. 11, the furtherelectronic device 101, 102 or 106 will store the processedcomplete-image data and subsequently convey them to a local database orto a database (e.g., US-IDENT, EU-VIS, credit card database) connectedvia network. The data are compared with the stored database entries. Theresults are received by the further electronic device 101, 102 or 106.If the results are not incriminating, e.g., the credit card data arelegitimate or the traveler at the border is not being sought on criminalcharges, the results are displayed on the connected further electronicdevice 101, 102 or 106 and on the image capture device 100 and theprocess in concluded. In cases where a critical result poses a danger tothe operator, a silent or hidden alarm is triggered, e.g., in the caseof border control on trains: if the traveler has been classified by thedatabase as wanted, the border official receives an alert, e.g., avibration, preferably on a smartphone (mobile phone 101) in his/herjacket pocket. In case of automobile border crossing, the borderofficial receives the alert on his/her PC 106, and the traveler does notsee this alert.

Live skin areas of human autopodia 112 and any documents 113, but IDdocuments in particular, can be recorded with the image capture device100 via a placement surface 104. In this regard, a policeman or borderofficial, for example, holds the image capture device 100 for, e.g., thetraveler whose identity is to be recorded or hands it to this traveler,e.g., into the interior of an automobile. The image capture device 100has at least one display 103 which can be located next to the placementsurface 104 as is shown in FIG. 1. In a preferred variant as shown inFIG. 3, a display 103 can also be located under the placement surface104. The information shown on the display 103 can then be vieweddirectly on the placement surface 104.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section through the image capture device 100. Thekey component part is a layer body 105 comprising a protective layer 114forming the placement surface 104, a sensor layer 115 and alight-emitting layer 116. The image capture device 100 further comprisesan electronic controlling and data processing unit 117.

At the start of the recording process, a prompt appears on a display 103of the image capture device 100 to present the appropriate autopodia 112or a document 113.

As used herein, autopodia 112 refers particularly to human fingers.Ideally, when recording flat fingerprints, the prints of all threephalanges are recorded; at least the skin prints of the third phalanxare detected. In the case of rolled fingerprints, the third phalanx isplaced flat on its side and then rolled over the placement surface 104.

In the present case, documents 113 are primarily identity documents (IDdocuments), e.g., a German government-issued identification card. In theUSA, driver's licenses are commonly used. However, a document 113 canalso be a boarding pass for an airplane, a ticket or a barcode located,e.g., on a printout or other object.

Before the image recording is made, illumination in the form of thelight-emitting layer 116 of the layer body 105 is switched on for theimage recording. Switching on can be carried out before or afterplacement of the autopodia 112 or document 113. In general, differentlight sources 122 or 124 can be provided in the image capture device 100for the recording of autopodia 112 and for the recording of documents113. The corresponding light source 122 or 124 can be switched on in thelight-emitting layer 116, or the light sources 122, 124 can be switchedover from one to the other depending on the object to be recorded.

Layer Body

The image capture device 100 has a layer body 105 as is shown in FIG. 4which comprises a sensor layer 115, a protective layer 114 which islocated above the latter and outwardly forms the placement surface 104and, under this, at least one light-emitting layer 116 which has lightsource components for illuminating autopodia 112 and documents 113 aswell as a layer for accommodating an electronic controlling and dataprocessing unit 117.

The image recording is carried out by means of a sensor layer 115 whichis protected from environmental influences by a protective layer 114.The protective layer 114 outwardly forms the placement surface 104. Atleast one light-emitting layer 116 is located under the sensor layer115. For the image capture of skin areas of autopodia 112, light iscoupled out of the light-emitting layer 116 in a defined angle range.This light propagates through the sensor layer 115 and protective layer114 to the placement surface 104. The placement surface 104 is anoptical interface between different materials: the material of theprotective layer 114 on the one hand and, on the other hand, thematerial of the environment of the image capture device 100 or thematerial of the presented object located on the placement surface 104.Reflection and transmission take place at this optical interface.Portions of the illumination light 110 of the light-emitting layer 116are reflected at the interface formed by the placement surface 104 andcan be detected by the sensor layer 115. Other components of theillumination light 110 pass the interface formed by the placementsurface 104. If there is no object, finger 112 or document 113 placed onthe placement surface 104, this transmitted light passes into theenvironment. If a finger 112 or document 113 is placed on the placementsurface 104, the illumination light 110 is reflected back orbackscattered by it. The scattered light 109 which is backscattered orreflected in this way can in turn be detected by the sensor layer 115.

Light Sources

The principle of frustrated total internal reflection is used forrecording skin prints. This principle is shown in FIG. 5. The lightsource 122 for illuminating autopodia 112 emits illumination light 110in a limited angle range around a preferred direction. The light source122 for illuminating autopodia 112 can be constructed as a waveguide asis shown in FIG. 5. Light is coupled into the light-emitting layer 116as waveguide via LEDs 125. The illumination light 110 is distributed inthe waveguide 126 in accordance with the physical principles of lightpropagation. The waveguide is constituted in such a way that componentsof the light propagating in the waveguide, as illumination light 110,can pass out of the waveguide.

The illumination light 110 undergoes total internal reflection at theplacement surface 104 as a result of the difference in the refractiveindex between the environment of the image capture device 100 (e.g.,air) and the protective layer 114 as long as the following preconditionis met:

${\theta_{c} = {\arcsin( \frac{n_{2}}{n_{1}} )}},$

where θ_(c) is the angle of the light in the protective layer 114measured relative to the perpendicular to the placement surface 104, n₂is the refractive index of the environment of the image capture device100, where air is n₂=1, and n₁ is the refractive index of the protectivelayer 114. For float glass (e.g., BK7), n₁ in the visible wavelengthregion is approximately 1.5. Accordingly, for θ_(c), there is an angleof about 42°.

For angle components of the illumination light 110 greater than 42°relative to the perpendicular of the placement surface 104, theillumination light 110 is totally reflected within the protective layer114. The internally reflected light 111 is detected by the sensor layer115. This applies in case there is no skin surface of an autopodium 112at the respective location in direct optical contact with the placementsurface 104. This is the case at those locations where no fingers 112are placed, but is also the case for valleys 118 of the fingerprintprofile. However, when the illumination light 110 strikes a ridge 119 ofthe fingerprint profile, the illumination light 110 couples into theskin tissue of the finger 112 at this location. Scattered light 109occurs at this location. Portions of the scattered light 109 arrive backin direction of the placement surface 104. They pass the placementsurface 104 and the protective layer 114 and are detected by the sensorlayer 115. The intensity of the scattered light 109 from the finger 112on the sensor layer 115 is less than the intensity of the internallyreflected light 111. This allows a contrast between ridge 119 and valley118 of the fingerprint profile to be imaged.

For the recording of documents 113 as shown in FIG. 6 the illuminationlight 110 needs fractions which are not totally internally reflected atthe placement surface 104. These fractions pass through the placementsurface 104 and produce scattered light 109 at the surface of thedocument 113. Fractions of the scattered light 109 return in directionof the placement surface 104. They pass the placement surface 104 andthe protective layer 114 and are detected by the sensor layer 115.Depending on the color and brightness of the document 113, theillumination light 110 produces scattered light 109 of varying strengthat different locations on the document 113. An image of the document 113(impression, text, pattern) can accordingly be recorded.

Different angle ranges of illumination light 110 are used for imagingthe fingerprint profile and for imaging (printed) flat documents 113.The best contrast between the ridge 119 and valley 118 of thefingerprint profile is obtained when all of the angle fractions of theillumination light 110 satisfy the precondition for total internalreflection at the placement surface 104. However, it is then impossibleto record flat documents 113. If the illumination light 110 has noangular components that satisfy the precondition fortotal internalreflection at the placement surface 104, but does have angularcomponents that can pass the placement surface 104, it is possible toimage flat documents 113 but is not possible to record the fingerprintprofile.

The light-emitting layer 116 can be constructed in such a way that itemits angle components for recording the fingerprint profile as well asangle components for recording documents 113. The layer body 105 shownin FIG. 4 has a light-emitting layer 116 with only one light source 122,wherein it is ensured that it comprises light components which meet theprerequisite for total internal reflection as well as light componentswhich do not undergo total internal reflection. This embodiment form hasthe advantage that only one light source 122 is needed and, accordingly,costs, volume and weight are lower than in embodiment forms having morethan one light source.

In a preferred embodiment form of the image capture device 100, thereare two light sources in the light-emitting layer 116, one light source122 for illuminating autopodia 112 and one light source 124 forilluminating documents 113. Corresponding layer bodies 105 with alight-emitting layer 116 which is divided in two and which comprises twolight sources 122 and 124 are shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. Depending onthe object, autopodium 112 or document 113 to be recorded, theappropriate light source 122 for the illumination of autopodia 112 isswitched on and the other light source 124 for the illumination ofdocuments 113 is switched off. The two light sources 122 and 124 can beoptimized, respectively, with regard to the angular spectrum either fordocument recording or for the recording of skin prints of multi-segmentautopodia 112. The light source 122 for the illumination of autopodia112 then ideally generates an illumination light 110 which satisfies theprerequisite for total internal reflection at the placement surface 104.The contrast between ridge 119 and valley 118 of a skin print profile isthen maximized for this system. The light source 124 for theillumination of documents 113 ideally comprises only angle componentswhich do not meet the precondition for total internal reflection at theplacement surface 104 but, rather, emit at exit angles which divergeappreciably from total reflection angles.

In case of a light-emitting layer 116 with a system of two light sources122 and 124, the light of one light source 124 must pass the other lightsource 122. In a preferred embodiment form, shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6,the light source 122 for the illumination of autopodia 112 is directlyconnected to the sensor layer 115 and is sufficiently transparent tolight of the light source 124 for the illumination of documents 113. Inthis variant, the light of the light source 124 for the illumination ofdocuments 113 passes the light source 122 for the illumination ofautopodia 112, the sensor layer 115 and the protective layer 114 andilluminates the document 113 through the placement surface 104. Afurther layer, e.g., an air gap 123, with a smaller refractive indexthan that of the light source 122 for the illumination of autopodia 112which is formed as a waveguide is located between the two sources 122and 124. If a waveguide system is used as light source 122 for theillumination of autopodia 112, the air gap 123 ensures that there is nointerference of this waveguide, i.e., no light is coupled out on theside remote of the sensor layer 115.

Homogenization

In a particularly preferred embodiment form, a waveguide is used aslight source 122 for the illumination of autopodia 112. In aconstructional variant, a reflector 129 is located between the sensorlayer 115 and the light source 122 for the illumination of autopodia 112so that light from the light source 122 for the illumination ofautopodia 112 can couple out in direction of the placement surface 104so as to illuminate this placement surface 104. This concept is shown inFIG. 7. Accordingly, the reflector layer 129 forms a further layer ofthe layer body 105 and is optically coupled with sensor layer 115 aswell as with the light source 122 for the illumination of autopodia 112.

When two layers are optically coupled, this means that there is no airgap between them. In case the two layers are glued together or connectedto one another by another joining process and an additional material(e.g., glue) is accordingly located between the two layers, thismaterial has a refractive index between that of the two layers, or itsrefractive index is similar to that of the two layers.

The reflector 129 is constructed in such a way that it reflects aportion of the light and transmits a portion of the light. Accordingly,a portion of the illumination light 110 can propagate farther in thelight-emitting layer 116 which accordingly acts as waveguide, while theother portion illuminates the placement surface 104 through layer body105. The reflectance of the reflector 129 should be at least 50%, andthe transmission should be greater than 5%. A reflector layer 129 ofthis kind may be constructed as a metal layer, for example. In order forthe transmittance of the metal reflector layer 129 to be sufficientlyhigh, the metal layer must be sufficiently thin. A thickness of severalnanometers to several tens of nanometers meets these basic reflectionand transmission requirements for common metals (e.g., silver, gold,aluminum, brass, copper).

In a particularly preferred embodiment form, the ratio of reflectanceand transmittance of the reflector layer 129 can be defined by thestructure of a metal layer rather than by the thickness. In thisvariant, the metal reflector layer 129 has a thickness of at leastseveral tens of nanometers and its transmittance is accordingly lessthan 1%. However, a reflector layer 129 of this type has a structuresuch that there are transparent regions and reflecting regions.Accordingly, an effective (i.e., averaged) transmittance and reflectancecan be adjusted for this layer design of the reflector 129 via the arearatio between reflecting regions and transparent regions.

In order to realize an illumination that is as homogeneous as possibleover the entire placement surface 104, the structures in the metal ofthe reflector layer 129 should be smaller than the center-to-centerpixel spacing of the light-sensitive elements of the sensor layer 115 sothat the structures do not appear too strongly in the image captured bythe sensor layer 115. The broader the angle range of the emittedillumination light 110 of the light-emitting layer 116, the fewerintensity fluctuations generated by the reflector layer 129 in thesensor layer 115.

For an illumination of the placement surface 104 that is as homogeneousas possible, the structures of the reflector layer 129 can vary over itssurface area. In particular, a more homogeneous illumination isgenerated when the reflectance in the vicinity of the LEDs 125 whichcouple the illumination light 110 into the light-emitting layer 116acting as waveguide is greater and the transmittance is smaller. Complexdistribution structures can be carried out in this way in order torealize an illumination of the placement surface 104 that is ashomogeneous as possible depending on the angular spectrum of theillumination, the thickness of the waveguide formed in thelight-emitting layer 116 and the thicknesses of the other layers in thelayer body 105.

Sensors

An optical image recording concept in which conventional opticallyimaging elements such as lenses and prisms are entirely omitted is usedso that the image capture device 100 can be as thin and lightweight aspossible. The sensor layer 115 is approximately as large as theplacement surface 104 and thus allows a 1:1-imaging of the objectslocated on the placement surface 104. Light components from thelight-emitting layer 116 which are reflected internally at the placementsurface 104 as well as light components which are backscattered from theobjects such as autopodia 112 or documents 113 are detected. But lightcomponents of the ambient light 127 which directly pass the placementsurface 104 or which pass the placement surface 104 and the protectivelayer 114 through the placed object are also detected.

The sensor layer 115 is preferably based on TFT technology. This makesit possible, in contrast to CCD technology or CMOS technology, to uselarge-area sensors on the one hand and substrate materials aside fromthe silicon semiconductor on the other hand. Accordingly, a substratewhich is transparent to the visible wavelength spectrum is possible.Glass is preferably used as substrate material for the sensor layer 115.

The sensor layer 115 comprises a two-dimensional regular pixel array.The pixel array has light-sensitive regions 120 and transparent regions121. The light-sensitive regions 120 are preferably photodiodes. Owingto the transparent regions 121 and to the use of a transparentsubstrate, the entire sensor layer 115 on the average is transparent.The effective transmittance of the sensor layer 115 is greater than 10%,preferably greater than 20%.

Protective Layer

The sensor layer 115 is protected from environmental influences by aprotective layer 114. Disruptive or destructive environmental influencescan act mechanically, chemically and electrically. To be mechanicallyrobust, the protective layer 114 must be as hard and scratch-resistantas possible. The recording of documents 113 presents a challenge in thisrespect because they are harder than the skin of autopodia 112 and harddirt particles can generate scratches when the document 113 is guidedalong the placement surface 104. In the present instance, a Mohshardness of at least 6 is required. To ensure more extensive protection,a Mohs hardness of at least 7 is preferred. For chemical protection, thesensor layer 115 must be adequately encapsulated. Moisture, cleaningagents, etc. may not come in contact with the sensor layer 115. It mustlikewise be protected against electrical discharge. An insulator, e.g.glass, having a thickness of at least 25 μm ensures a sufficientprotection in this regard.

A preferred protection system for the sensor layer 115 which adequatelyprotects against all of the above-mentioned environmental influences isthin glass having a thickness of greater than 25 μm. It offers a verygood encapsulation, a Mohs hardness ≥6 and, moreover, affords thenecessary protection against electrical discharges. Thicker glass ispreferable in order to further increase resistance to mechanical impactand discharge protection. To improve scratch resistance, tempered glass,sapphire or glass coated with toughening layers is especiallypreferable. A protective component of this kind is glued to the sensorlayer 115 or is optically connected by another joining process. A glue133 between protective layer 114 and sensor layer 115 forms anadditional layer in the layer body 105 as is shown in FIG. 7.

Ambient Light Protection

Aside from internally reflected light 111 or scattered light 109, bothof which originate from the internal light-emitting layer 116, ambientlight 127 also reaches the sensor layer 115, e.g., from the sun (seeFIG. 8). The ambient light 127 can reach the sensor layer 115 directlythrough the placement surface 104 or also through the autopodia 112 orthe document 113. This can result in loss of information in case thelight-sensitive regions 120 of the sensor layer 115 are saturated andaccordingly cannot receive any more information. In this case, aspectral filter 128 can offer efficient protection. This spectral filter128 can be arranged, e.g., between the protective layer 114 and thesensor layer 115. Since when recording documents the document 113 itselfoffers good protection against ambient light, the aim is primarily tofind an effective ambient light protection for the recording ofautopodia 112. Ambient red light passes very easily through humantissue. Therefore, an efficient spectral filter 128 would be adapted toextensively block red light. The spectral filter 128 can be constructed,e.g., as absorption filter or as interference filter.

In a preferred embodiment form, the spectral filter 128 is arranged asfluid in the glue 133 between the protective layer 114 and the sensorlayer 115 so that no additional layer is needed.

In a further specific embodiment form, the spectral filter 128 can bestructured such that only the light-sensitive regions 120, but not thetransparent regions 121, of the sensor layer 115 are provided with thespectral filter 128. Accordingly, light from the light-emitting layer115 can be perceived by the user via the placement surface 104 withoutspectral filtering. This enables a color display, for example, in casethe light-emitting layer 116 is formed by the display 103 as describedreferring to FIG. 3.

A further efficient variant for an ambient light protection is anambient light diaphragm 130 as in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. In contrast tospectral filtering, this concept operates on the basis ofangle-selective filtering. For this purpose, there is at least oneadditional layer with an ambient light diaphragm 130. This ambient lightdiaphragm 130 is arranged at a distance from the light-sensitive region120 corresponding approximately to an edge length of the light-sensitiveregion 120. Light components which impinge on the light-sensitive region120 at angles which do not even occur in the angle spectrum of theillumination light 110 but which originate through the ambient light 110can be blocked in this way. In addition, a further layer can be arrangeddirectly on the light-sensitive region 120 in order to block unwantedangle ranges even more selectively.

Display/User Guide/Interaction

In a preferred embodiment form, the user can control the image capturedevice 100 and the image capture process via the display 103 by means oftouch (touchscreen). The display 103 adjacent to the placement surface104 serves to show input prompts or suggested corrections. Suggestedcorrections may be, e.g., cues for pressing the autopodia 112 harder orsofter or changing the finger position.

A direct interaction with the user is made possible by a displayfunctionality directly on the placement surface 104 by constructing thelight-emitting layer 116 as a display 103 or by combining display 103and sensor layer 115 in one layer. In this way, placement errors can bedisplayed directly at the correct location. The rolling process forrecording rolled fingerprints can be supported interactively byindicating the position and speed of rolling.

Power Supply

The arrangement according to the invention further has an accumulator ora battery in its mobile image capture device 100 so that it can beoperated cordlessly. In case of an accumulator, it can be charged by acharging device via an external interface (e.g., USB). The image capturedevice 100 with the utilized components and usual power saving functionscan preferably be used for an entire day without using a charger orother cable connection. However, this time period can also beappreciably shortened by choice with a docking station or a replaceableaccumulator as already mentioned above.

Method

The mobile image capture device 100 is wirelessly connected to a furtherelectronic device, either a mobile phone (smartphone) 101, tablet PC 102or stationary computer 106 with display screen 107. Images of documents113, particularly ID documents, and skin areas of human autopodia 112are recorded via the image capture device 100 and sent to the connectedelectronic device, a mobile phone 101, a tablet PC 102 or a computer106.

Sending takes place as live sequence with a latency in a range of <1 s.The images must be reduced on the image capture device 100 before beingsent because of the limitation of the bandwidth of the wirelessconnection. Reducing the image recorded in the image capture device 100refers to the file size. Preferred variants for reducing file size are,e.g.:

(a) reducing the resolution (every nth pixel, every nth line isdiscarded),

(b) reducing the dynamics (reducing the quantity of gray levels, e.g.,converting from 9-bit to 8-bit),

(c) cutting out relevant image information (discarding image portionswhich do not contain relevant information),

(d) compressing (common compression algorithms such as, e.g., losslessPNG compression).

At least the last image recorded with the image capture device 100 isretained in memory in the image capture device 100 as complete image(i.e., with full resolution and full dynamic range) and is sent along ascomplete image upon an OK signal from the quality check from the coupledfurther electronic device 101, 102 or 106. Older recordings are deletedor overwritten.

The data sent to the connected electronic device 101, 102 or 106 as livesequence are evaluated by this device. For example, an evaluation can becarried out based on:

(a) analysis of the image noise,

(b) grayscale analysis (histogram), and

(c) contrast analysis (e.g., ridge-valley contrast of the fingerprint).

The evaluation can be carried out, e.g., by means of comparison. When acomparison value (threshold value) is reached, a signal is sent to theimage capture device 100.

In a preferred variant in which only the last complete image is storedin the image capture device 100, the connected electronic device 101,102 or 106 always evaluates the last image received from the livesequence. If this image satisfies the quality requirement, then afterthe signal has been sent to the image capture device 100, the laststored complete image is sent from the image capture device 100 to theconnected device 101, 102 or 106. To this end, the sending of the finalreduced image, the evaluation thereof in the connected device 101, 102or 106 and the receipt of the signal by the image capture device 100must be carried out faster than the time interval between two images ofthe live sequence. Otherwise, the stored complete image would already beoverwritten again by a new complete image after the signal is receivedby the image capture device 100, and the complete image that wasevaluated by the connected electronic device 101, 102 or 106 wouldaccordingly be deleted.

In a particularly preferred variant of the method, a plurality ofcomplete images are stored in the image capture device 100 with a uniqueidentifier. The reduced images sent in the live sequence also carry thisidentifier. The identifier of the image that has passed the quality teston the connected electronic device 101, 102 or 106 is sent to the imagecapture device 100. This image capture device 100 then in turn sends thecomplete image to the connected electronic device 101, 102 or 106.

The procedures described herein can be repeated for different recordingscorresponding to a determined process chain (work flow). The 4-4-2 workflow is typical, for example. In this case, four fingers of one hand(autopodia 112) are scanned in a first image recording, the four fingers112 of the other hand are then scanned in a second image recording andthen the thumbs of both hands (autopodia 112) are subsequently scannedas third image recording. The prompt to position the correspondingfingers 112 and the response when the quality check is carried out inthe coupled further electronic device 101, 102 or 106 and the qualitycriteria are met (e.g., green checkmark on display 103) are carried outvia the display 103 of the image capture device 100.

The complete images are further processed on the connected electronicdevice 101, 102 or 106. In this case, processing can be the fusion ofdifferent recordings or the combination of recordings and informationand compression. Processed images can be routed to databases or storagesystems via the connected electronic device 101, 102 or 106 or can alsobe compared with databases stored locally on the connected electronicdevice 101, 102 or 106.

The results of a database comparison (e.g., hits in a criminal database)can be evaluated on the connected device 101, 102 or 106 or can be sentto the image capture device 100. A concealed alarm on the image capturedevice 100 or on the coupled further electronic device 101, 102 or 106is also possible.

The image capture device 100 can be controlled and monitored via thewirelessly connected further electronic device 101, 102 and 106(monitoring of the recording process, examination and control ofrecorded data, emergency deletion of data in case of loss, blocking ofimage capture device 100, interaction with the image capture process).The control and monitoring can also extend at the same time to aplurality of wireless image capture devices 100. Accordingly, data froma plurality of image capture devices 100 can be combined, the processescan be efficiently monitored, and the data can be sent in bundles.Further data can be added in turn, e.g., via a keyboard or a photograph,e.g., of the face, via the wirelessly connected electronic device 101,102 or 106. These data are then combined with the fingerprint and/ordocument data and/or signature data and sent or evaluated.

On the other hand, the image capture device 100 can also control andmonitor a wirelessly connected device. The sending of data by means ofthe connected electronic device 101,102 or 106 (which is in turnconnected with databases, e.g., via the Internet) can be initiated viathe image capture device 100. For this purpose, the connected electronicdevice 101, 102 or 106 of the arrangement according to the invention cancommunicate the status of its connection with a database (Internetconnection, security level, battery status). Evaluation results can besent to the arrangement according to the invention and, for example, ahidden alarm can be triggered. For example, a border official can bewarned by this alarm while recording the data of a traveler in case thistraveler is a registered criminal.

Embodiment Example 1

A typical field of use for the mobile application of the arrangementaccording to the invention and of the method according to the inventionis the crossing of an international border, e.g., the border between theUSA and Mexico, in private border traffic by motor vehicle (automobile).

The automobile is occupied by four passengers, for example. Each of thefour travelers is to be identified by the fingerprint of ten fingers 112recorded flat. Further, the driver's license is also to be recorded atthe same time in this checking process.

A border control booth in which a border police officer sits is locatedat the border crossing. A barrier in front of which the automobile stopsis located on the road. The border police officer has the mobile imagecapture device 100 and a PC 106 as coupled further electronic device inhis/her border control booth. The PC 106 and the image capture device100 are wirelessly connected to one another via WLAN, and the PC 106 isin turn connected via Internet to US-IDENT (fingerprint database of theDHS).

The police officer has the driver's license handed to him/her. Thepolice officer switches on the mode for recording ID documents 113 onthe mobile image capture device 100 and records images of the IDdocuments 113 of the passengers consecutively. Subsequently, the policeofficer activates the mode for recording fingerprints and hands themobile image capture device 100 into the automobile. Each passenger inturn records prints of their ten fingers 112. A display 103 on the imagecapture device 100 shows when each finger 112 is to be recorded. Thepolice officer in the border control booth monitors the recordingprocess on the PC 106. In so doing, the police officer can see the liveimages and, for example, can request that certain recordings be repeatedon the display 103 of the image capture device 100.

The sequence for the recording of fingerprints in the above-describedscenario is typically 4-4-2: first, four fingers of one hand, then fourfingers of the other hand and, finally, both thumbs. Accordingly, threeimages are recorded per person in this case.

When all of the recordings are successfully concluded, the fingerprintdata are compared with the database. The database sends a result to thePC 106 which is shown on the computer display screen 107.

This identification process is substantially more secure than individualfinger recordings which are mostly used at the present time. Anerroneous association of the fingers 112 due to an incorrect sequenceduring the recording is ruled out. The two 4-finger recordings and2-thumb recording are faster than the single finger recording becauseonly three images are recorded instead of ten images. Further, there isgreater security for the official because the official need not leavethe border control booth for the procedure. Data security is highbecause travelers have no direct access to the PC 106 and therefore canalso not steal it. None of the travelers' data is stored on the mobileimage capture device 100 after the complete-image data of the threeindividual print images have been loaded onto the PC 106. The costsassociated with this border control are lower than they would be in caseof two separate devices for document recording and fingerprintrecordings.

Further, there is an appreciable increase in comfort for borderpersonnel. The official has control over the fingerprint recording ofthe travelers at all times because of the mirroring of the recordingprocedure on the PC 106. Placing the ID documents 113 flat on theplacement surface 104 simplifies recording and prevents blurriness,reflections and ambient light problems compared to photographing thedocuments 113. The travelers need not exit the vehicle to carry out therecording on the image capture device 100.

Embodiment Example 2

A further typical scenario for application of the arrangement accordingto the invention is in retail business, for example. The customer wantsto purchase a product and pay for it. The seller is not at aconventional register, but rather moves freely around the store with themobile image capture device 100. This mobile image capture device 100 isin turn wirelessly connected to a tablet PC 102 as coupled furtherelectronic device for checking data quality and verifying personal data.

The customer pays the seller by credit card, the customer's fingerprintis recorded and the customer signs. The tablet PC 102 is connected tothe credit card bank. The seller takes the product that the customerwould like to buy and records its barcode with the image capture device100 according to the invention. The price and payment methods areindicated on the display 103 of the image capture device 100. The sellerchooses the payment method by means of touchscreen, records an image ofthe customer's credit card and scans four flat fingerprints of one ofthe customer's hands. All of the recordings of the mobile image capturedevice 100 are forwarded to the tablet PC 102. The fingerprint data andthe credit card data are sent via the tablet PC 102 to the credit cardbank, where they are checked against a database. The database sends theresults of the check to the tablet PC 102. The tablet PC 102 sends theresults to the mobile image capture device 100, where it is displayed.The customer then confirms the payment by signing on the mobile imagecapture device 100. The printing process for a receipt for the customeris then initiated via the tablet PC 102.

Security is significantly increased in the scenario described above,since the recording of a plurality of fingers is more secure than theindividual finger recording customary at the present time. Security isalso increased through the detection of three payment control factors:credit card, fingerprint and signature. The credit card is readoptically, not in a contactless manner, which reduces the risk of datatheft. The tablet PC 102 is located in a secure place so that it cannotbe stolen. The mobile image capture device 100 does not contain any dataabout previous customers. Costs can be lowered because only one deviceis used for recording barcodes, fingerprints, documents and signatures.Comfort is increased because the customer need not wait in line. Theseller can control the sale process actively from start to finish.

Embodiment Example 3

Another typical application is mobile border control in trains. Forexample, in a train traveling from Russia to Finland, travelers withvisas must be identified by fingerprinting (ten flat fingers) and visa(in the passport), and the visa must be verified. The border policeofficer has two hours to check all of the travelers. The border policeofficer has the mobile image capture device 100 and a mobile phone 101(smartphone) as further electronic device for the data work flow. Themobile phone 101 is connected to the mobile image capture device 100 viaBluetooth. The mobile phone 101 is in turn connected to EU-VIS (visadatabase of the EU).

The police officer records the personal data of the travelers with themobile phone 101 and activates the fingerprint/document recording on themobile phone 101 so that the connected mobile image capture device 100switches to the corresponding mode, and the mobile phone 101 is stowedin the uniform jacket of the police officer. The police officer recordsten flat fingers 112 of each traveler in three steps (4-4-2) and thenrecords the visa with the large-area optical sensor layer 115 of themobile image capture device 100. The mobile phone 101 receives thefingerprint data and visa data (document image) and sends them to thedatabase. The database compares the data with the stored data and sendsthe results to the mobile phone 101. If the results are unremarkable,the mobile phone 101 forwards the results to the mobile image capturedevice 100, and the mobile image capture device 100 shows the results onthe display 103. If a problem has been determined during the databasecheck, the mobile phone 101 generates a “silent alarm” or sends an errormessage to the image capture device 100.

One advantage is the recording of ten fingers 112 instead of theindividual finger recording carried out heretofore. The ten-fingerprocedure requires only three recordings (4-4-2), and the process isaccordingly faster than sequential image recording. The method providesgreater security for the official because, with two devices in usesimultaneously, he/she always only needs to operate one device andaccordingly has one hand free. Moreover, the data are also secure: themobile phone 101 cannot easily be stolen and there is no storage offingerprint data or mobile data on the mobile image capture device 100.There is also a cost advantage in that only one device is needed forfingerprinting and document recording instead of two devices. Flatpositioning ID documents 113 (passports and visas) simplifies recordingand prevents blurriness, reflections and ambient light problems comparedto a recording by a conventional camera (e.g., smartphone camera).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   100 image capture device    -   101 mobile phone (smartphone)    -   102 tablet PC    -   103 display    -   104 placement surface    -   105 layer body    -   106 computer (PC)    -   107 display screen    -   108 wireless connection    -   109 scattered light    -   110 illumination light    -   111 (internally) reflected light    -   112 autopodium (finger)    -   113 document    -   114 protective layer    -   115 sensor layer    -   116 light-emitting layer    -   117 (electronic) controlling and data processing unit    -   118 valley    -   119 ridge    -   120 light-sensitive region    -   121 transparent region    -   122 light source for illuminating autopodia    -   123 air gap    -   124 light source for illuminating documents    -   125 LED (light emitting diode)    -   126 light propagation in the waveguide    -   127 ambient light (sun)    -   128 spectral filter    -   129 reflector (layer)    -   130 ambient light diaphragm    -   132 pixel aperture stop    -   133 glue (between protective layer 114 and sensor layer 115)

What is claimed is:
 1. An arrangement for optical recording of live skinareas of human autopodia and of documents, comprising: a layer body witha sensor layer comprising light-sensitive elements arranged in atwo-dimensional regular pixel raster; a transparent protective layerabove the two-dimensional pixel raster of light-sensitive elements ofthe sensor layer, the protective layer having an outer surface of thelayer body parallel to and at a defined distance from thelight-sensitive elements, the outer surface providing a placementsurface for the live skin areas of multi-segment autopodia or for thedocuments to be recorded; an area light source capable of couplingportions of light from a direction of the sensor layer through theprotective layer into the skin areas of the autopodial to be recorded orthe documents, wherein all layers of the layer body located between thearea light source and the placement surface transmit at least portionsof light of a required wavelength range; and a control unit for imagereadout, image processing and control of the light source; wherein thelayer body is integrated in a mobile image capture device comprising: atleast one display for displaying user guidance for a user; an internalpower supply for powering the mobile image capture device for a desiredperiod of use without an external power feed; the layer bodysupplemented under the sensor layer by the area light source as alight-emitting layer, wherein the light-emitting layer is configured toemit: light in a first angle range such that portions of light in theprotective layer are internally reflected at the placement surface torecord skin areas of the autopodial placed on the placement surfaceusing the principle of frustrated total internal reflection, and lightin a second angle range such that portions of light illuminate thedocument placed on the placement surface through the placement surface;the mobile image capture device having an electronic controlling anddata processing unit for preprocessing captured image data, and forreducing the captured image data for wirelessly sending the capturedimage data to a further electronic device; and the mobile image capturedevice being coupled to the further electronic device for image dataprocessing with quality assessment and image data management via aninterface for wireless data transmission and communication.
 2. Thearrangement according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting layer ofthe image capture device comprises two light sources, the two lightsources comprising a first light source for illuminating recordings ofskin prints of the autopodia based on a principle of frustrated totalinternal reflection and a second light source for capturing images ofdocuments.
 3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sensorlayer of the image capture device comprises transparent regions so thata proportion of at least 10% of the light of alight-emitting layer canpass through the sensor layer.
 4. The arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the protective layer comprises an optical glass or sapphire or atransparent ceramic.
 5. The arrangement according to claim 4, whereinthe protective layer has an optical cement layer for connecting to thesensor layer.
 6. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein theprotective layer is formed as an upper window of a protective housing ofthe image capture device.
 7. The arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the further electronic device is a mobile phone, a tablet PC, astationary computer or a laptop.
 8. The arrangement according to claim1, wherein the further electronic device has a display for showing theimages captured by the image capture device so that the recordingprocess can be displayed in real time on the further electronic device.9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a power supply havingat least one replaceable primary battery or a chargeable accumulator isprovided in the mobile capture device.
 10. The arrangement according toclaim 9, wherein the at least one chargeable accumulator of the mobileimage capture device can be charged via a network cable, a USB interfaceor by means of a docking station.
 11. The arrangement according to claim1, wherein the at least one display in the mobile image capture deviceserves to display information for user guidance and is arranged inparallel to the sensor layer on a side of the sensor layer remote of theprotective layer so that information on the display can be perceived bythe user over the placement surface through the sensor layer and theprotective layer.
 12. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein theat least one display of the mobile image capture device serves todisplay information for user guidance and is located adjacent to theplacement surface so that user information can be displayed and seen bythe user when the placement surface is occupied by the autopodia or thedocument.
 13. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the imagecapture device further comprises a camera for capturing a photograph ofa face of the user.
 14. The arrangement according to claim 1, whereinthe at least one display of the image capture device has a touchfunction for controlling the mobile image capture device.
 15. Thearrangement according to claim 1, wherein the image capture device andthe further electronic device are provided for data compression and dataencoding.
 16. A method for optical recording of live skin areas of humanautopodia and of documents by using the arrangement according to claim1, the method comprising: prompting to place at least one multi-joinedautopodium or a document on the placement surface of the layer body bydisplaying on the display of the image capture device; placing the atleast one multi-joint autopodium or the document on the placementsurface of the image capture device; controlling the light emittinglayer in an illumination mode which is suitable either for capturingskin recordings of the autopodium by frustrated total internalreflection or for capturing the documents; capturing images of skinprints of the autopodium or of the placed document with the sensor layerof the layer body; storing image data of a captured image in the imagecapture device; preprocessing the image data of the captured image andreducing the image data in the image capture device; sending reducedimage data of the captured image from the image capture device to awirelessly coupled further electronic device; further processing theimage data for quality checking in the coupled further electronicdevice; forwarding results of the quality checking from the coupledfurther electronic device with a prompt to the image capture device fora further image recording or for forwarding complete-image data of aprevious image captured by the image capture device; and storing orforwarding transmitted complete-image data.
 17. The method according toclaim 16, further comprising: evaluating successive images recorded withthe image capture device by means of evaluation software in the coupledfurther electronic device; sending a signal from the further electronicdevice to the image capture device as a trigger for sendingcomplete-image data of an image captured last when the evaluationsoftware of the further electronic device has assessed a quality of thelast captured image as good; and sending the complete-image data of thelast captured image of skin prints of the autopodia placed on theplacement surface or of the document placed on the placement surfacefrom the image capture device to the coupled further electronic device.18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: evaluatingsuccessive images of a defined image sequence, the successive imagesbeing captured with the image capture device by means of evaluationsoftware in the coupled further electronic device; sending a signal fromthe further electronic device to the image capture device as a triggerfor sending complete-image data of a selected image of a previouslycaptured image sequence when the evaluation software of the furtherelectronic device has selected an image of the previously captured imagesequence as the best-quality image of the image sequence from aplurality of images assessed as good; and sending the complete-imagedata of the best-quality image of the previously recorded image sequenceof skin prints of the placed autopodia or of the placed document fromthe image capture device to the coupled further electronic device. 19.The method according to claim 16, further comprising: evaluatingsuccessive images of a defined image sequence, the successive imagesbeing captured with the image capture device by means of evaluationsoftware in the coupled further electronic device; sending a signal fromthe further electronic device to the image capture device as a triggerfor sending complete-image data of a selected image of a previouslycaptured image sequence when the evaluation software of the furtherelectronic device has selected an image of the previously captured imagesequence as the best-quality image of the image sequence from all of theimages classified as being of insufficient quality; and sending thecomplete-image data of the best-quality image of the previously recordedimage sequence of skin prints of the placed autopodia or of the placeddocument from the image capture device to the coupled further electronicdevice.
 20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:sending at least one image captured by the image capture device via thecoupled further electronic device to a connected database for checking apersonal identity or document validity; and receiving the result of thecheck on the coupled further electronic device and forwarding to theimage capture device when the check has furnished a positive result. 21.The method according to claim 16, further comprising: sending the atleast one image captured by the image capture device via the coupledfurther electronic device to a connected database for checking apersonal identity or document validity; and receiving the result of thecheck on the coupled further electronic device and triggering a “silentalarm” on the coupled further electronic device when the check hasfurnished a negative result.
 22. The method according to claim 21,wherein the results are shown on the coupled further electronic deviceacoustically or by vibration.